Answers with Explanations:
1. What do we, as readers, learn from this myth about power?
As a reader, I have learned that "power" should not be used for one's own happiness and pleasure. Just as what "King Minos of Crete" did to those under him, such as the Athens. He didn't care about how unjust his actions were such as asking for seven young men and seven young women yearly, only to be fed to his Minotaur.
I have also learned that even if one is powerful, just like Theseus, who is the Prince of Athens and who killed the Minotaur, he should also show his gratefulness to people who helped him. Ariadne helped him escape the labyrinth, however, unafraid that he would marry her because he didn't find her attractive, he left her on an island.
2. How can power corrupt people? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art or history in your own answer.
Power can corrupt people in many ways. Just like King Minos, his power makes him very selfish. He doesn't think about his tyranny over the rulers in the land. He didn't give them any freedom to say "no" to whatever he wanted.
In my experience, I have realized that "power" has also corrupted me before. I used to have a very good position in a company and I became so overwhelmed in reaching the company's goal that I pushed everyone's button in the office. I wanted them to work over time without realizing that I was being unfair to them.
When it comes to literature, I can relate corruption of power to that of Zeus. His power allowed him to do whatever he wanted that he even stole fire from man. This shows how power can make even the gods "greedy."
